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  3. Korean Pronunciation
  • Front Vowel
  • Central Vowel
  • Back Vowel
  • y(ㅣ)-Glide Diphthong
  • w(ㅗ/ㅜ)-Glide Diphthong
  • (ㅢ) Diphthong
  • Bilabial Consonant
  • Alveolar Consonant
  • Palatal Consonant
  • Velar Consonant
  • Glottal Consonant

Pronunciation

ㅈ/t͡s/

1. Basic identity of ㅈ

• Type: Plain alveolo-palatal affricate

• IPA (basic): /tɕ/

• Articulation: Stop + fricative (like t → sh)

• Light aspiration, no strong voicing

ㅈ is not English “j”.

2. How to pronounce ㅈ correctly

Step-by-step

1. Tongue:

  • Front of tongue near the hard palate

2. Start:

  • Brief stop (t-like)

3. Release:

  • Soft friction (sh-like)

4. Voice:

  • No vibration at start

Think “tsj / tch”, but soft and short.

3. Pronunciation by position

Initial / medial

• /tɕ/

Example:

자 → [tɕa]

아주 → [a-dʑu] (voiced between vowels)

Between vowels

• Slight voicing

Example:

여자 → [jʌ-dʑa]

Final consonant (받침)

• Pronounced as /t̚/

• No release

Example:

낮 → [nat̚]

꽃잎 → [kkoch-nip̚]


Syllables composed by ㅈ and examples of words
No.
Vowel
Syllable
Word
Meaning
1 ㅣ 지 지구 the Earth
2 ㅔ 제 문제 problem
3 ㅐ 재 재능 talent
4 ㅚ 죄 죄 crime
5 ㅟ 쥐 쥐다 to hold
1 ㅡ 즈 주즈 juice
2 ㅓ 저 저자 author
3 ㅏ 자 자동차 car
1 ㅗ 조 조사 investigation
2 ㅜ 주 주소 address
1 ㅘ 좌 좌석 seat

Pronunciation

ㅉ/t͡s͈/

1. Basic identity of ㅉ

• Type: Tense (fortis) alveolo-palatal affricate

• Articulation: Strong stop + sharp frication

• No aspiration, no voicing

ㅉ is tight, sharp, and short, not airy.

2. How to pronounce ㅉ correctly

Step-by-step

1. Tongue:

  • Front of tongue firmly against the hard palate

2. Muscle tension:

  • Tighten tongue and throat

3. Air:

  • Do not release air

4. Release:

  • Short, explosive affrication

Think “block → snap”, not chhh.

3. Position rules

• ㅉ appears only at the beginning of a syllable

• Never appears as a final consonant (받침)

Examples

• 짜다 /tɕ͈a-da/ (salty)

• 쪼개다 /tɕ͈o-gɛ-da/ (split)

• 아주 좋아 → 아쭈 좋아 (tensing)


Syllables composed by ㅉ and examples of words
No.
Vowel
Syllable
Word
Meaning
1 ㅣ 찌 찌다 to rise
2 ㅐ 째 째째하다 stingy
1 ㅡ 쯔 낫토쯔 natto
2 ㅏ 짜 짜르다 to cut
1 ㅗ 쪼 쪼개다 to split
2 ㅜ 쭈 쭈그리다 to shrink

Pronunciation

ㅊ/t͡sʰ/

1. Basic identity of ㅊ

• Type: Aspirated alveolo-palatal affricate

• IPA: /tɕʰ/

• Key feature: Strong aspiration (lots of air)

• Voiceless

ㅊ sounds like “ch” with a strong burst of air.

2. How to pronounce ㅊ correctly

Step-by-step

1. Tongue

  • Front of the tongue touches the hard palate (same position as ㅈ, ㅉ)

2. Block air

3. Release strongly

  • Push out a lot of air

4. No voicing

A good test: put your hand in front of your mouth — you should feel air.

3. Position rules

Syllable initial

• Clear /tɕʰ/

Examples:

차 /tɕʰa/ (car, tea)

치마 /tɕʰi-ma/ (skirt)

Final consonant (받침)

• Pronounced as ㄷ [t̚]

• No air release

Examples:

꽃 → [k͈ot̚]

빛 → [pit̚]


Syllables composed by ㅊ and examples of words
No.
Vowel
Syllable
Word
Meaning
1 ㅣ 치 치마 skirt
2 ㅔ 체 체중 body weight
3 ㅐ 채 채소 vegetable
4 ㅚ 최 최근 recently
5 ㅟ 취 취업 employment
1 ㅡ 츠 츠나미 tsunami
2 ㅓ 처 처방 prescription
3 ㅏ 차 차 tea
1 ㅗ 초 초등학교 elementary school
2 ㅜ 추 추구 pursuit
1 ㅞ 췌 췌장 pancreas
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This collection of 100 essential expressions focuses on greetings, daily interactions, politeness, and emotional connection—covering situations such as meeting someone, parting ways, showing gratitude, offering support, and expressing care.

Rather than memorizing isolated words, these phrases help learners understand how Korean is naturally used in real-life conversations. Many expressions include important cultural elements such as respect, hierarchy, and warmth, which are central to Korean communication.

By studying these phrases, learners will:

  • Develop practical speaking skills for daily conversations
  • Understand common sentence patterns and polite forms
  • Gain confidence in social and professional interactions
  • Become familiar with Korean cultural nuances

    Course Image

    Greetings

    This collection of 100 essential expressions focuses on greetings, daily interactions, politeness, and emotional connection—covering situations such as meeting someone, parting ways, showing gratitude, offering support, and expressing care.

    Rather than memorizing isolated words, these phrases help learners understand how Korean is naturally used in real-life conversations. Many expressions include important cultural elements such as respect, hierarchy, and warmth, which are central to Korean communication.

    By studying these phrases, learners will:

    • Develop practical speaking skills for daily conversations
    • Understand common sentence patterns and polite forms
    • Gain confidence in social and professional interactions
    • Become familiar with Korean cultural nuances

      Course Image

      Greetings

      This collection of 100 essential expressions focuses on greetings, daily interactions, politeness, and emotional connection—covering situations such as meeting someone, parting ways, showing gratitude, offering support, and expressing care.

      Rather than memorizing isolated words, these phrases help learners understand how Korean is naturally used in real-life conversations. Many expressions include important cultural elements such as respect, hierarchy, and warmth, which are central to Korean communication.

      By studying these phrases, learners will:

      • Develop practical speaking skills for daily conversations
      • Understand common sentence patterns and polite forms
      • Gain confidence in social and professional interactions
      • Become familiar with Korean cultural nuances